H pylori exist in the gallbladder mucosa of patients with chronic cholecystitis

AIM:To study whether H pylori locate in the gallbladder mucosa of patients with chronic cholecystitis.METHODS:Using Warthy-Starry(W-S)silver stain and immunohistochemistry stain with anti-H pylori antibodies,we screened paraffin specimens in 524 cases of cholecystitis.H pylori urease gene A(HPUA)and H pylori urease gene B(HPUB)were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)in the fresh tissue specimens from 81 cases of cholecystitis.RESULTS:H pylori-like bacteria were found in 13.55% of the gallbladders of the cholecystitis patients using W-S stain.Meanwhile,bacteria positive for H pylori antibodies were also found in 7.1% of the gallbladders of patients with cholecystitis by immunohistochemistry.Of 81 gallbladders,11 were positive for both HPUA and HPUB,4 were positive for HPUA only and 7 were positive for HPUB only.CONCLUSION:H pylori exist in the gallbladders of patients with chronic cholecystitis.